Polymerization initiators for fiber-reinforced polymer composites and materials made from the composites

Abstract

Coupling-initiator compounds are described that include a silicon-containing coupling moiety and at least one polymerization initiator moiety. The coupling moiety may be linked to the at least one polymerization initiator moiety by at least one linking moiety. The coupling moiety is capable of coupling the compound to a substrate, while the one or more polymerization initiator moieties are capable of initiating a polymerization of a monomer under polymerization conditions. The coupling-initiator compounds may be included in fiber reinforced polymer composites, where the compounds are coupled to the fibers in the composites and participate in the polymerization of the surrounding polymer.

1. A coupling-initiator compound having the formula:
   S—X—(I) n ,
 
 wherein n is an integer having a value between 2 and 5; 
 S comprises a silicon-containing coupling moiety through which the coupling-initiator compound bonds to a substrate surface; 
 X comprises a linking moiety to link the S moiety with the one or more I moieties; and 
 (I) n  comprises one or more polymerization initiator moieties, wherein each of the initiator moieties is capable of initiating a polymerization of a monomer under polymerization conditions, and wherein each of the initiator moieties may be the same or different. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-containing coupling moiety (S) comprises: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 3 , R 4  and R 5  are the same or different, and are selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen group, and an alkylcyclic group. 
       
     
     
       3. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 2 , wherein R 3 , R 4  and R 5  each independently comprise a C 1  to C 5  alkoxy group. 
     
     
       4. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the linking moiety (X) is selected from the group consisting of carbon (—C—), nitrogen (—N—), oxygen (—O—), sulphur (—S—), silicon (—Si—), an amine group, an amide group, an aromatic group, a urethane group, a urea group, an ether group, and an ester group. 
     
     
       5. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the initiator moieties (I) comprises a C 1  to C 9 , substituted or unsubstituted, organo-cyclic ring. 
     
     
       6. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the organo-cyclic ring comprises at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and sulphur. 
     
     
       7. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the organo-cyclic ring comprises: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       8. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more initiator moieties initiate an in situ ring-opening polymerization reaction with the monomer in the presence of a polymerization catalyst. 
     
     
       9. The coupling-initiator compound of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate surface comprises a fiberglass surface.